ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A video that sells a popular product persuades even more viewers when it tells a story about how to succeed.

Such is the case with this year’s “Ode To The Livery” video sponsored by industry fleet vehicle dealer, Towne Livery of Orchard Park, N.Y. Towne’s vehicle promotional videos have become an annual tradition at LCT events, with this year’s LCT East Show the fourth in a row to be promoted by a Towne video. It ties in with the Western theme of the show: “On The Road To Success.”

Round Up On Real Street

Towne Livery's David Bastian in a promotional illustration for the video.

Bastian wanted to communicate a positive message to the luxury ground transportation industry this year as it collectively tries to make sense of and maneuver in a market saturated with app-based ride-hail services. He was inspired by a company in his hometown Buffalo, N.Y. region, Liberty Yellow Cab, whose owner Bill Yuhnke changed how he did business instead of surrendering the market to TNCs.

“Bill got involved with community events, changed the look of his logo and the way his cars look, and embraced apps, a call center, and more technology,” Bastian said. “He’s winning now. Uber is not beating him. His business has increased.” He also sponsored Buffalo Bills games' radio broadcasts, increased his driver training, and bought a Lincoln MKS and MKT.

Gangster "Big Al" Rodominiski and "Deputy" David Bastian on the set. (photo: Galora)

Giddyap For Fleet Success

Of course, for limo operators, using the starring black Lincoln horses — the MKT Town Car, Navigator, and Continental — helps up their game, too, as the video underscores.

“We confront and run them out of town,” Bastian said of the plot. “If you up your game by buying brand new Lincolns, you have the best vehicles matched to professionally dressed and trained chauffeurs with the best technology. You, too, can run the ‘Goober Gang’ out of town, or at least compete with them.”

The shootout consists of the dueling competitors hitting smartphone apps. “We drew our smartphones and hit buttons on the apps because we don’t want to condone violence with guns,” Bastian said.

Inspiration for a video: The Uber driver in pajama pants dropping off a rider at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. (Facebook)

Video Tell-All

The Towne video once again was directed, produced, and arranged by Galora Productions. Owner Peter McGennis was the director and producer. “Big Al” Rodominski, a salesman at Towne Chrysler Dodge Jeep, also stars as the bad “Goober Guy” wearing red pajama pants. His outfit was inspired by an actual shot of an Uber driver unloading his car trunk in front of the Washington, D.C. Ritz-Carlton that was posted on Facebook.

The video scenes were all shot Oct. 18 at the Fantasy Island amusement park near Buffalo, where the production team was allowed full access to a western small town themed section.

McGennis also provided the voice and original music and lyrics for the guitarist played by the bearded Norman Liss, an employee at Towne Auto who helps out Towne Livery at trade shows. The video also stars other recurring character actors and Towne employees, including Steven Yox and Tony McCarthy.

Bastian plays the lead role in the video as the smartphone slinger whose livery calvary comes to the rescue against Goober gangsters. (photo: Galora)

“Ode To Livery” reflects a lot of details the average viewer may not catch the first time around. For example, one of the MKTs is silver in color, to represent the horse “Silver,” and showcase a special edition MKT Towne has available in inventory.Bastian’s badge, which says “Lincoln County Regulator,” was chosen because of the name “Lincoln” and the irony of Uber and TNCs not being regulated properly. His character is a deputized regulator, not a sheriff.

“This is a parody of how the operator perceives the TNCs,” Bastian said. “We put a lot of work into the detail.”

The video will also debut at the Denim N’ Diamonds LCT People’s Choice Awards Celebration on Monday, Nov. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the show at Harrah’s Atlantic City.

Bastian and Towne so far have done four videos for LCT East and four for the International LCT Show, 2015 to 2018. Videos here @ LCTMag.com. He’s planning his ninth promotional video for the International LCT Show in Las Vegas, March 24-27, 2019.

Operators Douglas Schwartz of the Long Island Transportation Association and Kevin Barwell of the Limousine Bus Taxi Operators of Upstate New York went to Albany, N.Y. on Jan. 30, 2019 to speak before the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2019-2020 Executive Budget to oppose a proposal to ban modified stretch limousines in the state of New York.

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